From the hallway came the sound of the key in the lock and the door opening, and Joe looked up to see his mum with half a dozen shopping bags coming into the kitchen. She caught site of him and greeted him with a warm smile.
"Nice day at school, honey?"
Joe shrugged in a non-committal way. He didn't lie to his mum.
"Went down to the shops after work," commented the blonde-haired woman as she dumped the bags on the floor, "what do you want for dinner? Chicken? Pizza? Spaghetti?"
"Whatever's easiest," he replied, not being particularly fussed.
"I'll do your favourite, hey? Spaghetti Bolognese. Do me a favour and put this stuff away while I get cooking."
"You seem cheerful," said Joe as he started to put the food into the cupboards of their small kitchen, "any particular reason?"
"Well, I was going to wait until dinner," the excitement, which had been concealed, was now brimming, ready to overflow, "but what the heck. I got promoted! Can you believe it? Apparently, they're really impressed with my designs and they want me on the team!" Joe's mum was a fashion designer who worked at the clothes shop 'Cerulean Sea'. "It's a dream come true. Rhea Stevens, Chief Fashion Designer."
"That's great!"
"I can't wait to tell your father. Richard will be so pleased."
Richard got home just as the smell of Bolognese was beginning to make Joe's mouth water. He slammed the door shut and stormed into the dining room.
"What's wrong Rich?" Asked Rhea.
"Bad day at work," answered Richard, the rage twisting his voice into a growl. His eyes fixed Joe with a thunderous look, "don't ask."
They sat down to eat, but even the warm taste of their dinner and his mum's good news couldn't penetrate the overshadowing storm cloud of his father's black mood. Richard was genuinely happy for her but his mind was somewhere else. And Joe could guess where that somewhere else was. He chewed his favourite meal without relish, letting it slip tastelessly down his throat. Maybe he should go meet his mates tonight. They'd be down at the park playing football and talking like they usually do on Thursdays. Get out quick. Escape.
"Mum, you don't mind if I go out after dinner, do you?"
"No," snapped his dad before his mum had even had opened her mouth to reply, "no. Definitely not."
"Rich," said Rhea, with a small sigh, "what's wrong? You've been in a huffy mood ever since you got home. Is your boss giving you a hard time? Did something happen today?"
"No, work was fine," answered his dad, "yes, just fine."
"Well, what is it then?"
'Not now dad,' thought Joe, 'not in front of mum. Please, don't ruin her day. But of course, Richard couldn't hear his thoughts.
"I got a phone call from the school," his dad continued, his voice full of suppressed rage.
"Mum, may I get down," Joe asked. He had to get out now.
"Apparently Joe wasn't there today. They wouldn't normally of called but they've got a new policy to crackdown on truancy."
"Oh, Joe," sighed his mother, "what are we going to do with you."
"Apparently, you have to let the school know now if pupils are absent with illness. Ring in as well as a note. Except, Joe was perfectly well today. Cavorting around London."
"What did you tell them?" Asked Rhea, her face a pale picture of disappointment and worry.
"That he was ill of course. At home in bed. Not that it's the first time I've had to lie for the sake of this distrustful boy of ours," Richard had started to shout, his face flushing red. "I've had enough!"
"It was only one day," Joe tried to argue back.
"Precisely, it's not! This is your future you're wasting! Not only that but you lied to us Joe, what have we ever done to deserve that, eh?"
"I'm sorry, but-."
"You're not sorry or you wouldn't have done it! Get up to your room NOW! Your grounded boy, and if I hear you've been skipping school again I'll walk you to school myself!"
Joe pushed back his chair and stormed upstairs. Grounded! Whatever. He was tempted to slam his bedroom door, but with his dad in that kind of mood, it wasn't wise. He locked his door behind him and grabbed his coat. Just in case, he turned on his stereo, putting the volume up to the max, then he pushed up the window and slid himself out. He was on the conservatory roof. From here he just lowered himself down and he was out the back gate. Freedom. He knew the streets of London like the back of his hand and it wasn't long until he was down at the park.
"Hey Joe!" Called one of his mates.
"Hey Matt, fancy a kick around?"
"Yeah, we were just waiting for you to show up."
The afternoon was typical of summer. Even with the fading light the air was close and warm. Mingling scents of summer blossom and scuffed grass hung in the air and the park and city sounds seemed muffled. Matt went in goal. He was well built with a square jaw and his hair had been styled into short spikes. They always joked he was carrying the extra muscle that belonged to Jon. This was because Jon was slight for his age. Then there was Haz, the clown of the group. He just couldn't resist playing up; even when he knew the trouble it would get him in. Ross was more sensible. He was probably the only one of them that had a decent amount of common sense.
"You weren't a school today," commented Ross, as he passed the ball over to Joe.
"Nah," he replied, passing it back, "had that geography assessment, didn't I."
"I suppose you finished it before you came out," Ross answered him sarcastically.
They kicked the ball around, occasionally shooting at the goal, but the warm summer air made them all feel tired and lazy. Eventually they stopped and sat on the bank to chat for a while.
"So what did you do in London?" Jon asked, flicking his fringe out of his eyes.
"This and that. Ran into a copper though."
"That was stupid of yeh," laughed Matt, "what did you do that for?"
"Yeah, I really ought to have my head checked out," he replied sarcastically, "no, he was after some girl."
"Some girl? Anyone I know?"
"Na, she was a magician."
"And she was skiving?"
"Yeah, real pretty to. She's coming out on the weekend. I'm gonna meet her at the museum in the morning."
"You asked her out?"
"I never said that."
"Joe, mate, you can't help yourself can you."
A boyish grin appeared on Joe's face.
"It ain't going to be easy," Joe said, "she's not that sort of girl."
"Your up to the challenge then?"
"When haven't I been."
"Joe, I'd swear you were just out there for the challenge, not the girl. You can't stand being committed can you."
"Oh I don't know. I'm sure if I found the right person . . ."
"Yeah, we all believe you mate," laughed Haz, "really, we do."
They sat there for a while. Chatting about girls, school and some concert that was coming up. Joe hardly noticed the time and when he finally looked at his watch he gave a start.
"I have to go."
"What's the rush?"
"Dad found out about today. I'm grounded. I'm not even meant to be out."
"See you at school tomorrow then."
"Yeah. You going to come meet this new girl at the weekend then?"
"At the museum?"
"Ah, come on."
"I suppose."
"What about the rest of you?"
His mates all agreed to meet him.
"Okay then, see ya."
Joe hurried off back. Would his parents have realised? When he got home he skipped back up onto the conservatory roof and slid through his window. He music was still pounding away, accompanied by the steady beat of his dad's fists on the door.
"Turn that music off! You'll wake up half the bloody street!"
Grudgingly, he turned his stereo off. His father's shouting had probably already done that.
"Now unlock this door. It's about time you went to bed. You'll be getting up to go to school tomorrow and no-where else."
He heard his father's footsteps die away. He got changed, unlocked his door and got into bed, his MP3 player laid out beside him. Parents. Magicians didn't have parents. They didn't have to put up with all this hassle. School was probably more interesting and all.